Officers:

Meetings:

All meetings are held on Thursdays at 9:00am -10:00am at Westwood Public Library 49 Park Avenue​Westwood, NJ 07675

Be sure to check with a club member if you're dropping in. Meeting location or time can change.

What is the Rotary Club of Greater Westwood?

The Rotary Club of Greater Westwood, NJ is dedicated to contributing time, energy and money to projects that change lives locally, nationally and throughout the world. Formed in 2013, the Club represents Hillsdale, River Vale, Township of Washington and Westwood. Our diverse membership includes area businesses and nonprofit organizations, as well as residents of all ages – young parents through to retirees – each offering their talents, skills, passions and networks as we strive to embody the Rotary motto Service Above Self.

If you would like more information about the club, please emailwestwoodrotarynj@gmail.com or join us at our weekly meeting on the FIRST and THIRD Thursdays of each month at 9AM at the Westwood Public Library (49 Park Avenue, Westwood, NJ).

Westwood Rotary Fights Hunger

The Westwood Rotary is committed to fighting hunger and partners with other organizations to raise money, host dinners and contribute to other actions that help those in need. The Westwood Rotary has sponsored Halloween Against Hunger which packaged meals for thousands of those in need. The Westwood Rotary is also co-sponsor of the "Circle of Friends" community dinner at Parkside Community Church located at 545 Fourth Ave. in Westwood. They provide a free hot meal on the fourth Thursday of each month (except Nov. Dec. when it occurs on the third Thursday) to anyone who needs it. Please make a donation to help the Westwood Rotary's continued fight against hunger in our community.​ If you wish to help at these events and/or sponsor a meal, please call 201-666-8998 or email Info@Parksidechurch.net.

Business Networking Event - Nov. 5, 2018

2015 Summer International Youth Exchange

Rachel Ocher did an exchange with a girl from Italy. Rachel's friend (pictured above) arrived on June 18 and the girls traveled back to Sicily on July 15. Rachel returned home on August 13 and had an amazing time.

Stan Urbiel visited Madrid in July with his new friend from Spain, and returned home on August 5 .

We're not your father's Rotary Club

Want to learn more about Westwood Rotary? Stop by our meetings on the first or third Thursdays at 9AM in the Westwood Library, lower level meeting room to get to know us.

Hands Only CPR Training

Westwood Rotary has been offering Hands Only CPR training to organizations and individuals since 2015. If you would like to be trained, please contact any member to schedule a group or individual training or email us at WestwoodRotaryNJ@Gmail.com.

'Not your father’s Rotary’

Members of the Rotary Club of Greater Westwood meet at
The Iron Horse during their youth exchange program meeting.

"We are finding ourselves to be different from other clubs we’ve met," she explained. "Membership is diverse. We have local business people, retirees, young parents… mostly women. [The] diversity is something we’re proud of. We consider ourselves a young club." Perhaps that’s why the club’s motto, "we’re not your father’s Rotary," fits them like a glove. The club, which meets for an hour-and-a-half every Thursday at noon at the Westwood Library, focuses on three programs: drug and alcohol abuse prevention, youth exchange, and CPR training. The programs were selected by the members because they carry personal significance to them, Hopkins said. "Almost all of us [have been] touched with drug issues through friends and family," she said. "We want to raise the veil [and] take away the stigma. It’s everywhere, but we’re just doing what we can in our community." Indeed, thinking globally and acting locally is their MO. The Westwood Rotary is one of 32,000 rotary clubs throughout the globe. In their youth exchange program, members enable youths in their mid-teens and 20s to serve as ambassadors to study abroad and engage in a family-to-family exchange to expand their knowledge about different cultures. In the club’s CPR program, volunteers oversee an hour of CPR training held at local facilities, including churches. Last year, the club held a food drive to benefit Hillsdale’s Helping Hand Food Pantry, in which the rotary coordinated a drive with the Westwood High School football team. The Westwood Rotary also supports other organizations’ projects, including the Mahwah Environmental Volunteers Organization and Relay for Life. "Anything we can do to help facilitate an effort for another organization, we want to be available to them," noted Hopkins. On Sept. 2, the club invited the community to festivities at Bibi’z Lounge in the borough where prospective participants got a glimpse of what the club is about in a celebration they called "A Night In Morocco." After socializing, attendees headed to the Rosebud Theater for a showing of "Casablanca." "We have this wonderful group of people from all different walks of life and we get along very well," said Hopkins. "Together, we’re making the decisions [for] where we want to go." Hopkins said future goals for the club include increasing membership by up to an extra half-dozen members and garnering more youth involvement in their youth exchange program. In the coming year, the club plans to visit the Interact Clubs at Westwood High School, Pascack Valley High School in Hillsdale, and Immaculate Heart Academy in Washington Township to act as a "guiding force" for the kids. "We’re very proud of what we accomplished," said Hopkins. "[We’ve] successfully got off the ground, and we are setting the stage for long-term success." To learn more about Rotary Club of Greater Westwood, visit westwoodrotarynj.com.

This is Rotary

Rotary Fast Facts

32,00 Rotary Clubs in the world

Clubs are in 165 different countries

1.2 million members

End Polio Now

Westwood Rotary Partners with Local Environmental Organization MEVO to Provide Community Education and Improvements

Westwood, NJ – March 27, 2014 – As part of its ongoing speakers’ series connecting local organizations with the community, the Westwood Rotary recently hosted Eric J. Fuchs-Stengel, Executive Director of MEVO (Mahwah Environmental Volunteers Organization), to discuss the group’s initiatives and volunteer opportunities to make lasting environmental changes throughout the area. “Economic and community development are among Rotary’s six areas of service,” explained Suzanne Mannion-Hopkins, President of the Westwood Rotary. “By supporting MEVO through volunteering and public awareness initiatives our Club is able to make a difference right here in our community.” Click here for complete press release.

Here are photos from MEVO's Family Volunteer Day. It was a great event where Rotarians, community members, college students and families with young children came out to help MEVO start their spring gardening.

Youth Exchange Program

This past summer Alice, a high school student from Hillsdale, spent the summer overseas through the Rotary's Short-Term Exchange Program. The program presents opportunities for students to advance their knowledge and world understanding by allowing them to visit a different country for a limited period of time. Participating students live with a matched host family in their selected country from three to six weeks in the summer under the sponsorship of a local Rotary Club.

Any student between 15 and 18 1/2 years old can participate in the program. If your son or daughter would like to spend next summer, please contact us soon.

Family and Friends CPR Anytime

Mercedes Benz Human Resources Department Knows CPR Anytime!

As of July 22, our club has facilitated the trained of 65 youth and adults in the Pascack Valley in this life saving technique. Take less than 30 minutes out of your day to learn this! Contact us for more information. Click here to see photos and to view more information about Family and Friends CPR Anytime.